Fan Box: Reaction to Peyton Manning news

View full sizeIn this March 9, 2012 file photo, NFL football quarterback Peyton Manning, center, takes a tour with executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos John Elway, left, and Broncos coach John Fox, rear right, at the Broncos' training facility in Englewood, Colo. ESPN is reporting that Manning is negotiating to join the Broncos. Citing anonymous sources Monday, March 19, 2012, ESPN said that the four-time MVP has instructed agent Tom Condon to negotiate to complete a deal with Denver. (AP Photo/The Denver Post, John Leyba)

Peyton Manning must have a thing for horse logos: From the Horseshoe to the Wild Horse.

Only a HOF QB really can get inside to mind of another HOF(-bound) signal-caller. It is a very small fraternity. If comfort level really was Peyton's top priority, only Elway could possibly understand what he's talking about, as ESPN blogger Bill Williamson explains here.

More national reaction to #18's move to Denver (the No. 18 is currently retired in Denver, in honor of the team's first QB, Frank Tripucka. Cup of coffee says it's coming out of mothballs):

Tim Tebow's Traveling Salvation Show strikes the tent in the Mile High City once the Manning deal is official, reports ESPN (which was more than happy, by the way, to buy a ticket and take the ride last fall, lest ye forget).

Ryan Howard is out until mid-May at the earliest, coming off of Achillies' Heel surgery complications. Placido Polanco is 37, had a lousy 2011, and busted up his finger on Sunday. Jimmy Rollins has not exactly been the picture of health going back a couple of seasons. Now comes word that Chase Utley will not be ready for the season opener in three weeks. Phils' GM Ruben Amaro sounds unsure about a return. And now the word "career" is being whispered. Not good.

Utley hasn't seen any action at all in Florida, ailed by a chronically bad right knee that might not get better.

So the Phils could be looking at an infield of Ty Wigginton at third base, Rollins, the Michael Martinez/Hector Luna/Freddy Galvis winner at second and a platoon involving Jim Thome, John Mayberry Jr and Laynce Nix at first. Not exactly the Million Dollar Infield (to borrow a phrase once coined of Connie Mack's Philadelphia A's way back in the day, though the dollar amount no longer applies). Can't believe the club heads north with that. Mike Aviles, anyone?

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